New DAT: Are there Updated Prep Materials? Is Crack the DAT Worth It?

[goldcrown17]

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Hey everyone! With the updates to the DAT, what preparation materials are best? I know that big changes are to the QR (no geometry or trig and added statistics) and Biology (more logic based questions). I noticed that DAT Destroyer is updating their prep materials for the new test, however are other prep materials updating as well? I am taking my DAT in the summer and I want to be sure that I am prepared for the new test.

Additionally, is Crack the DAT worth it? I plan on using it for PAT, but are the other subjects worth the price? Crack the DAT says nothing about an update to biology or QR so I am hesitant on purchasing those sections.

If some people could also offer some commentary on my planned material, that would also be appreciated. I plan on using Barron's AP Bio, Chad's Videos, DAT Destroyer, Math Destroyer, Crack the DAT PAT, and Topscore. I also have a Kaplan book that I plan to use to get a solid strategy for reading. Is there anything else for reading?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

If I were you I would continue studying geometry/trig/added statistics for QR. It was announced those sections would be removed and new sections/emphasis added, but at the time of the announcement it was stated that these changes would be tested during the 2014-2015 timeframe but not actually count towards the score until 2016 (i.e. the portion of the exam effectively scored would still be the same as before). In more recent announcements the removal of sections was not mentioned, just the addition/emphasis of more statistics, data analysis, etc. (see the latest update here: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/dat_news_volume5_2014.ashx).

Furthermore, the ADA has not announced when these exam changes will actually be implemented. The last time I spoke to someone at the ADA I was told that an announcement would be made prior to the actual implementation of new questions, but other people have suggested that these changes could be slowly phased in at any time. So it is unknown when the changes will take place, if they've taken place already, and whether or not those changes will be counting towards your score or just be used to evaluate future implementation.

So at this point your preparation style/material shouldn't really be changing, aside from making sure you get an appropriate level of statistics practice in math.

As for Crack DAT being worth it, I really don't know. The general feedback I've seen suggests the PAT section is the most useful but certain sections are not currently representative of the difficulty of the real DAT, the QR and RC sections are good practice, and the science sections aren't very good. Bootcamp's PAT tests (and generators) are extremely helpful for this section.

Your other planned materials seem fine. I would look into DAT Bootcamp and/or Qvault as a source of additional practice, as a subscription will cover multiple subjects and a pretty decent bank of practice questions.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Hey everyone! With the updates to the DAT, what preparation materials are best? I know that big changes are to the QR (no geometry or trig and added statistics) and Biology (more logic based questions). I noticed that DAT Destroyer is updating their prep materials for the new test, however are other prep materials updating as well? I am taking my DAT in the summer and I want to be sure that I am prepared for the new test.

Additionally, is Crack the DAT worth it? I plan on using it for PAT, but are the other subjects worth the price? Crack the DAT says nothing about an update to biology or QR so I am hesitant on purchasing those sections.

If some people could also offer some commentary on my planned material, that would also be appreciated. I plan on using Barron's AP Bio, Chad's Videos, DAT Destroyer, Math Destroyer, Crack the DAT PAT, and Topscore. I also have a Kaplan book that I plan to use to get a solid strategy for reading. Is there anything else for reading?

Here is the latest 2015 DAT Guide and we have all those areas covered in the science and math sections and have also prepared for possible changes, although the 2015 guide does not indicate a change I still continue to monitor the ADA site for any changes. I do believe questions will be added slowly during the course of the next year, but again that is just my opinion.

Hope this helps..
http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/2015_dat_guide.ashx

 

[syedj94]

I read that they didn't change much. In fact, I think if you didn't know they changed it, you would still do good on it. The bio section has some minor changes I think.

 

[syedj94]

As for Crack DAT... I honestly don't like it much.. I wish I had spent that money on either Bootcamp, or the new version of the destroyer. Qvault is pretty cheap(I only got the Bio section)

 

[matardug]

Your materials look good, when do you plan on taking it?

 

[goldcrown17]

Your materials look good, when do you plan on taking it?

I plan on taking it at the end of June! I am taking 17 credits this semester and will be studying some biology using barrons and feralis notes. I'll be using the semester as a light review. Then I plan on studying full time for 6 weeks after my final exams are finished.